From Ashoka the Great, one of India's most illustrious emperors, and Pythagoras, the great Greek mathematician, to plant-powered top athletes like former Mr. Universe Bill Pearl and Olympian of the Century Carl Lewis, many of the world's brightest and most powerful individuals have shunned meat, dairy and eggs in favor of healthy and compassionate vegan lifestyles. Bloomberg Business Week recently ran an article entitled The Rise of the Power Vegans in which it outlined the growing popularity of cruelty-free eating among many of the world's modern elites, including billionaire Las Vegas casino developer Steve Wynn, Ford Executive Chairman of the Board Bill Ford, and former President Bill Clinton.

Reading like a who's who of powerful venture capitalists, leading politicians and heavyweight sports icons, the article lists such notable figures as The New York Daily News publisher Mort Zuckerman, hip hop mogul Russell Simmons, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, and Congressman Dennis Kucinich as having joined the vegan bandwagon. Bloomberg Business Week dispels any notion that veganism is just for the business elite by also including ex-NBA star John Salley, Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez, heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson and former National Hockey League brawler Georges Laraque in its lineup of "Power Vegans."

It's no surprise that many of the world's most powerful people are embracing veganism - it's better for our health, better for the environment and better for the animals. Of course, you don't have to be a heavyweight champion or a billionaire executive to enjoy a compassionate vegan lifestyle. Choosing healthy whole grains, fruits and vegetables over cruelly produced, high-cholesterol and saturated-fat-laden meat, dairy and eggs is easy, fun and contrary to Bloomberg Business Week, relatively inexpensive - especially when considering rising health care costs. Luckily, ChooseVeg.com is loaded with great tasting recipes and helpful tips designed to ease anyone's transition to a powerful, plant-based lifestyle.